Please help The Contribute Project extend value beyond innovative concrete products. Contribute is a surprisingly comfortable and versatile ink pen housing made entirely of concrete, neodymium magnets, and a spring plunger. Perhaps the thinest concrete pen in the world, it boasts the first unified concrete design. Compatible with many of the most appreciated ink refills. The Contribute Case is a unique design in itself.

As a Pen enthusiast, I was motivated to design a pen that showcases the advancements in concrete functionality and one that makes a versatile and unique addition to ones pen collection.

In addition to pushing the bounds of what concrete can do, successful funding of the Contribute Project will also help to pass on some great opportunities! The experience of incredible concrete objects is just the beginning of what I hope will contribute to others.

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Rewards:

I've been experimenting, researching, and testing concrete mix design for five years. This last year, I've devoted all my time, heart, and financial resources producing this project. I'm literally "all in". I'm excited to offer these rewards and confident that they will add value to you beyond their initial cost! These products are offered to you at discounts as a thank you and invitation to join me in creating something bigger than what I could achieve on my own.

+ OPTIONS +

Concrete Colors: Black, Blue, Green, Grey, Red, White Yellow

Button: Square or Circle Concrete Center (Magnet Included!)

Plating: Clear Anodize or 24k Gold

Hardwood Case: Alder or Birch

Exotic Hardwood Case: Black Palm or Zebra

The Contribute Pen with Black Palm Exotic Hardwood Case

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The Contribute Pen

Point of Excellence:

Engineered Concrete (ultra-high performance)

Threaded Concrete Core (Magnets & Spring Plunger are the only metals)

Ink Refill Variety Friendly

Neodymium Magnets (Magnetic Forever)

Spring Plunger (Joins Pen Body to Back Cap + Firmly Holds Refill)

Mix & Match Colors (Body, Back Cap, & Pen Cap Colors)

Smooth & High Polish

Light-weight

Hand-cast & Finished — USA (excluding Magnets & Spring plunger)

Contribute featured in Grey with G2 Gel Rollerball Refill

Dimensions:

Total Length without Cap: 5.625" (This is about a fingernail thickness over 5-1/2 inches)

Total Length Overall: 6"

Total Length with Pen Cap off: 5.625"

Pen Body: 4.75" L x .5" d

Back Cap: .875" L x .5" d

Pen Cap: .375" L x .5" d

Weight: 1.6 oz with ink refill

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Engineered for Excellence

The most impressive feature of the Contribute Pen is the structural integrity which determines its aesthetics. Because I've created with technological materials and developed innovate manufacturing,I've engineered a concrete mix that enables me to produce a sleek, durable, and versatile concrete pen.

Contribute products are made with extraordinary concrete. As you can see, it's exceptionally beautiful. This concrete is way beyond the strength of common construction concrete. In fact, this pen would not be possible without using the precise recipe and manufacturing techniques I've developed. No other concrete pen compares to this!

Unlike other concrete pens, the Contribute Pen is structurally supported with engineered concrete and neodymium magnets. The Pen body and back cap are joined together with a spring-plunger. Ink refills are changed by unscrewing the back cap and spring plunger.

Writes How You Like

Like some of my personal favorite pen housings, the Contribute Pen accommodates several different ink refills making it the perfect fit for any job you have in mind.

Contribute has a very balanced feel. You will find it surprisingly light as it weighs 1.6 oz when housing the Signo-DX. Although smooth and polished, the concrete grips your hand, but feels soft. If you've touched a highly polished piece of marble, this would be a similar feel. Contribute takes on the ambient room temperature and will warm with your touch.

This Growing List of Compatible Refills:

Cross Switch-it #8780 (manual adjust pencil height)

Cross Ball-Point #8101-2

Fisher Cross Type ** (needs to be tested but looks like a fit)

Pentel EnerGel #72512 (also fine: 24375 6) **

Pilot High Tec-C Cavalier

Pilot High Tec-C

Pilot G2 Gel Rollerball #77240

Pilot Q7 #77245 **

Pilot V-Ball #77285 **

Uni-Ball Gel #207

Uni-Ball Signo (DX)

** to accommodate a wider variety of ink refills a spacer will be provided with your pen. The refills without asterisks do not need a spacer. The spacer will likely be a spring.

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The Contribute Button

Features:

Precision Machining & Handmade — USA (excluding magnet)

Neodymium Magnet

Engineered Concrete

Aircraft Grade Aluminium

Clear Anodize or 24k Gold Plating

Reversible (Showcase either Metal or Concrete)

Contribute Buttons can be sewn to a bag, garment, or notebook

Dimensions:

.5" L x .5" W x .25" H

The Contribute Button was developed as a companion to the Contribute Pen. I was considering the option to help hold the pen in my shirt pocket or prevent it from rolling out of a notebook. If the button is placed near either end of the pen (where the magnets are) the two will join. Although the holding strength is about 1lbs., the button does a great job of holding the pen cap if you prefer the shorter pen length while in use.

I'm excited to see how others will use the button. I think it could make a great addition to a notebook or bag next to where you will store the pen. Or, it can be a decorative button with secret powers. Maybe a handy paper clip holder for your administrative friends?

Top Center Button features circle and black concrete option

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The Contribute Case

Contribute Case in Black Palm (bio-based natural finish)

Points of Excellence:

Hardwood

Handmade & Finished — USA (excluding magnet)

Concrete Cover + Neodymium Magnet

Perfect Fit for the Contribute Pen

Cover & Pen create a Latch effect

Eco-Friendly - Bio-Manufactured & Human Safe Sealant

Subs as a Gum Case?

Case in Birch with bio-based natural finish (natural saturated color)

Dimensions:

6.75" L x 1" W x 1" H

The Contribute Case is a joy to open and close. It is designed to provide extra protection and to ensure that your pen lasts for legacies of use! My studio neighbor calls them "fun little toys". I call them awesome.

Case in Alder (bio-based sealant with beeswax finish)

Case in Zebrawood (bio-based sealant with beeswax finish)

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Your Pledge My Promise

The Contribute Pen & accessories are not machined like common mass production methods. Although machining will be used to obtain the forms to hand-cast a centered and precision-fit pen. Their lasting beauty is found in the extra required human touch. Every Contribute product is custom and unique—I guarantee all Contribute products to meet or exceed your expectations.

Your pledge helps to obtain forms, polishing equipment, magnets & spring plungers to produce at least 200 pens, cases, and buttons. The greater the funding, the greater the bulk order can be.
I believe in the Kickstarter mission because I value collective vision & work that extends value beyond commerce.

In addition to making heirloom quality products, we will provide jobs to at least 6 different companies who employ multiple people. I look for your help in obtaining these objectives.

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Project CheckPoints

Determine Pen Quantity Demand

Submit Form Design to Machinist

Machine Forms & Button Housings

Order Polishing Equipment

Calibrate Polishing Process to make ready for production

Order Magnets

Finalize Color Options & Submit Photographs to Backers

Order Wood for Hardwood Cases

Finalize Package Designs

Order Packaging

Complete Curing Test Comparison (Confirm Maximum Durability)

Formulate Production Steps

Make Products & Ship!

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Next Steps

Depending on your monitor color settings, the concrete color pictured is my Grey concrete. The color options listed may be obtained with a soy-based stain which is eco-friendly.

To provide you confidence that you picked your preferred color(s), I will submit finalized pictures with plenty of deciding-time before emailing you the rewards survey.

The pen body is big enough to allow a nice range of pen refill widths. I've listed the one's that I've tested and found they fit. I will be testing more refills to find more that work.

After fulfilling Your KickStarter Rewards, I will continue production of the Contribute Products. I'm Looking forward to the unique opportunities to benefit others as I vision my partnership with Traveling Stories.

Risks and challenges

As the grandson of a Navy vet, diversified craftsman, real estate broker, and housing developer, I obtained an appreciation for integration and a job well done. As a man who has built upon the values he led by, I've completed both college and graduate level programs. I diligently complete projects. With the need to build on what I've learned and do what I love, I established Faddis Design.

The challenge I'm ready to face is integrating the tooling and bulk materials into my production. When funding is obtained, I will place bulk orders for the spring plungers and magnets. Waiting for these parts and the machining will be challenging.

Although I've established a baseline, aligning the curing & polishing stages to meet reward quantities will be needed. Concrete needs time and an optimized environment to develop strength. The curing variables are just as important as the recipe. When the tooling quantities are determined, I will finalize the curing duration to confirm that I've obtained the greatest possible strength & durability.

So, other than common challenges of developing a new system, I've already achieved great milestones. I've made and presented working prototypes, perfected my concrete mix, selected the magnets, and perfected the details of my casting process. I've also established some baselines associated with de-molding and curing.

I've experienced receiving rewards several months beyond estimated delivery dates. However, I've backed projects that have fulfilled rewards before the estimated delivery date. This added a sense of delight to my experience with supporting them. To maximize my ability as a project Creator to provide you with similar delight, I've set an estimated delivery date that I think is reasonable to allow me to meet the quantity demand and to hopefully stay ahead of schedule.

Thus far, I've organized and prepared an incredible foundation. I love sharing my process with others and communicating; so, I will keep you informed along the way! I prefer good vibes, blessings, and high5s.

Cheers,

Dustin

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